BUSH IN JAPAN

BUSH IN JAPAN; Bush Collapses at State Dinner With the Japanese

By MICHAEL WINES,

Published: January 9, 1992

TOKYO, Thursday, Jan. 9—
President Bush fell suddenly ill and collapsed at a state dinner being given for him Wednesday night at the home of the Japanese Prime Minister.Today, Mr. Bush appeared for photographers, looking tired but cheerful, and apologized for the alarm his collapse had caused.

Mr. Bush's spokesman, Marlin Fitzwater, said on Wednesday night, after the attack, that Mr. Bush had the kind of gastroenteritis commonly known as intestinal flu, but insisted nonetheless that he was "feeling fine." Under questioning, he acknowledged that Mr. Bush had thrown up at his seat just before collapsing and had been in what he called "a faint condition."

Mr. Fitzwater said today that the President, who is 67 years old, required no medication beyond an anti-nausea drug, but that Mr. Bush still experienced "some weakness" and that as a result, his morning schedule had been canceled. He said the President had a good night's sleep and would resume his schedule this afternoon.

"The doctors are certain that there is no other illness or any other problems related to this, that it's a simple case of the flu." he said. "The President is human; he gets sick." [ Excerpts from briefings, page A9. ]

Mr. Fitzwater said Mr. Bush fainted during the episode at the dinner, that he had vomited and then slid to the floor. This was repeatedly shown on television both here in Japan and in the United States. Bush 'Embarrassed'

The President's host, Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, cradled his head for some minutes until Mr. Bush was strong enough to get up on his own.

One person who attended the dinner and saw the incident at close range said the President "turned white as a sheet," rolled his head to the left, and was clearly fainting before being helped to the floor. "It all happened very, very fast," said the guest, who refused to be identified by name.

Today, at his first public appearance since becoming ill, Mr. Bush told Mr. Miyazawa at a photographers' session that he felt "so embarrassed" at the alarm his collapse had caused at last night's dinner.

Mr. Bush, who smiled broadly during the session, looked to be considerably less ill than the waxen-faced man who climbed into his limousine last night. But he still appeared on television to be tired and somewhat drawn.

Mr. Bush also disclosed that he had been given an electrocardiogram this morning, apparently by his personal physician, Burton J. Lee, to monitor his heartbeat. A White House spokeswoman confirmed that the test had been given and said the results were normal.

She was unable to explain why doctors elected to administer the test today, more than 12 hours after Mr. Bush first fell ill.

The spokeswoman also said that Mr. Bush had been given an inoculation against the flu some months ago, but that it was apparently not effective against the infection that struck the President last night.

Mr. Bush said that he first became sick in a receiving line at Mr. Miyazawa's residence before the dinner.

"I turned to the Prime Minister and said, 'Will you please excuse me?' and I rushed to the men's room. And I thought that had taken care of it."

But that, he noted wryly, was just the beginning.

Asked whether he had seen the television film of his collapse at the dinner, the President said: "I'm not sure I want to." Quayle Is Notified

Vice President Dan Quayle, Samuel K. Skinner, Mr. Bush's chief of staff, and other officials were notified of the President's collapse.

Mr. Quayle was told at 6:20 Wednesday morning by officials in the White House Situation Room and said later that he spoke soon afterward with Mrs. Bush, who assured him the President was doing well.

While campaigning in New Hampshire on Wednesday evening, Mr. Quayle spoke to Mr. Bush by telephone from the town of Litchfield. He said that the President's "voice was strong" and that he told him he "got the flu," and then asked about the political situation in New Hampshire.

While saying he was confident that he "is ready" to become President if necessary, Mr. Quayle said "that didn't even cross my mind" this morning when he was informed of Mr. Bush's illness. William Kristol, the Vice President's chief of staff, told reporters that there had been no significant change in Mr. Quayle's schedule because of the President's attack.

After the incident, Mr. Bush walked from Miyazawa's official residence under his own power, but looking haggard and wan, and wearing a green overcoat provided by a Secret Service agent to cover regurgitated food on his clothes.

Over a bedlam of clamoring reporters and Japanese security police who physically restrained them, he was heard to say: "I feel good."

After leaving the dinner, Mr. Bush went in his limousine to his guest suite at Akasaka Palace. An ambulance was brought to the front door from Mr. Bush's motorcade -- it regularly accompanies the President on motor trips -- but was not used.

Mr. Bush's wife, Barbara, remained at the dinner and participated in an exchange of toasts with Mr. Miyazawa later in the evening. Mr. Bush's friend and national security adviser, Brent Scowcroft, delivered the President's toast.